Blueberry plant named ‘MNPink1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Vaccinium , ‘MNPink1’, characterized by its pink berries, its moderately crisp berries that have a blueberry taste with desirable aroma and sugar-acid balance, its maroon fall foliage color, its mid size plant stature; reaching about 1.25 m in height and 1.4 m in width as a mature (25-year-old) plant, and its reliably cold hardiness and productivity in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.

Botanical classification: Vaccinium hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘MNPink1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofVaccinium spp. named ‘MNPink1’ and is hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘MNPink1’. ‘MNPink1’ represents a new cultivar ofhalf-high blueberry (derived from the species V. corymbosum and V.angustifolium) that is grown primarily as a home garden and landscapeplant.

The new cultivar was discovered as a seedling by the Inventor in Becker,Minn. The Inventor sowed seeds that were pooled from crosses madebetween unnamed proprietary plants in his breeding program in 1983. TheInventor selected ‘MNPink1’ in 1987 as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above crosses. The exact parentage isunknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by semi-hardwood cuttings in Becker, Minn. in 1988. Asexualpropagation of the new cultivar by semi-hardwood cuttings has shown thatthe unique features are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘MNPink1’ as a new and unique cultivar of Vaccinium.

-   -   1. ‘MNPink1’ exhibits pink berries as described herein.    -   2. ‘MNPink1’ exhibits moderately crisp berries that have a        blueberry taste with desirable aroma and sugar-acid balance.    -   3. ‘MNPink1’ exhibits maroon fall foliage color.    -   4. ‘MNPink1’ exhibits a slightly upright and bushy plant habit.    -   5. ‘MNPink1’ exhibits a mid size plant stature; reaching about        1.25 m in height and 1.4 m in width as a mature (25 year-old)        plant in central Minnesota.    -   6. ‘MNPink1’ has been shown to be reliably cold hardy and        productive in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.

‘MNPink1’ can be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Pink Lemonade’(not patented) and ‘Pink Champagne’ (not patented), and ‘Northblue’ (notpatented). ‘Pink Lemonade’ and ‘Pink Champagne’ are similar to ‘MNPink1’in having berries that are pink in color, but both differ from ‘MNPink1’most significantly in having darker pink berries and in having irregularor poor fruit crops when grown in northern climates due to havingsouthern blueberry species in their breeding history. ‘Pink Lemonade’ isa hexaploid blueberry whereas ‘Pink Champagne’ and ‘MNPink1’ aretetraploid blueberries. ‘Northblue’ is similar to ‘MNPink1’ in being ahalf high blueberry cultivar with good fruit production in northernclimates (U.S.D.A. Zone 4). ‘Northblue’ differs from ‘MNPink1’ in havingblue fruit, in having a more dwarf plant habit that is less upright withmore branching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Vaccinium cultivar. Thephotographs were taken of five year-old plants of the new cultivar asgrown outdoors in a field in Becker, Minn.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of a fruit-bearing plant of‘MNPink1’ in fruit.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a view of the plant habit of‘MNPink1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of ripe and nearlyripe fruit on a plant of ‘MNPink1’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of the upper surface(top) and lower surface (bottom) of mature, fully expanded leaves of‘MNPink1’ at the time of fruit ripening.

The photograph in FIG. 5 provides a close-up view of the calyx end ofripe fruit of ‘MNPink1’.

The photograph in FIG. 6 provides a close-up view of the pedicel end ofripe fruit of ‘MNPink1’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the new cultivarof Vaccinium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants 5 years in age (exceptwhere noted otherwise) as grown outdoors in a trial field in Becker,Minn. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Slightly upright and bushy.        -   Height and spread.—Mid size plant stature; reaching about            1.5 m in height and 1.7 m in width as a mature (25 year-old)            plant.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.        -   Diseases and pests.—No particular resistance or            susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Propagation.—Semi-hardwood cuttings.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate.        -   Chill requirement.—Has not been established.-   Stem description:    -   -   Mature canes.—197C and N200C in color, an range of 70 to 150            cm in length and 0.9 to 1.7 cm in width on a 25 year old,            mature specimen plant, bark surface ranges from smooth to            rough.        -   Dormant stems (previous years growth).—A blend of 45C and            46C in color, range from 7 to 45 cm in length and 3 mm in            width, surface is glabrous to sparsely pubescent, internode            length; an average of 2.2 cm, ranging from 1.6 to 2.8 cm.        -   New growth.—144B in color.        -   Branching.—Medium.        -   Suckering.—Medium.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate to round-cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color on upper and lower surface;            midrib NN155B and occasionally suffused midway from petiole            with 60A and 59B, other veins 191C.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf orientation.—Held slightly upward and cupped slightly            inward.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface glabrous and dull with            occasional sparse pubescence on the leaf margin and mid vein            on upper surface.        -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves upper and lower surface;            N144A with occasional overlay of anthocyanin coloration of            N170A to give a bronzing appearance, mature leaves upper            surface; 146A, mature leaves lower surface; 147B to 147C,            fall color upper surface; 183A changing to N34A and finally            to 45A as chlorophyll is lost, fall color lower surface; 35C            when chlorophyll is lost.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 6.4 cm in length, ranging from 5.8 to            7.7 cm in length; average of 3.6 cm in width, ranging from 3            to 4.4 cm in width.        -   Leaf blade length/width ratio.—Average of 1.8, ranges from            1.6 to 2.        -   Synchrony of leafing and flowering.—Shoots have about 5 to 7            leaves at flowering.        -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 4 mm in length and 1            mm in width, 60A and 59B in color, glabrous surface.        -   Stipules.—None observed.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Bloom season.—Buds burst medium-early, about April 15 to 30            in Becker, Minn., flowering begins medium-early, about May 5            to 15 in Becker, Minn., bud burst and bloom time are highly            variable depending on season, flowering time is after ‘St.            Cloud’, similar to ‘Northblue’, ‘Chippewa’, and ‘Polaris’            and earlier than ‘Northland’, ‘Superior’ and ‘Patriot’ (all            non patented).        -   Inflorescence.—Cluster, average of 2 cm in length 1.5 cm in            width.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Average of 8 days but highly            dependent on temperatures.        -   Number of flowers.—Average of 7 per inflorescence, range of            5 to 8.        -   Flower fragrance.—None to slight.        -   Flower size.—Average of 7.4 mm in length and 6 mm in width.        -   Flower buds.—1 to 10 per inflorescence, ovate in shape, 3.2            mm in length and 5.4 mm in width.        -   Corolla.—Urceolate in shape, comprised of 5 fused petals            with tip free and curled under, average of 5.4 mm in length            and 6 mm in width, aperture is an average of 3.5 mm in            diameter, color 155A on outer and inner surface with outer            surface sometimes tinged with 182D with sun exposure,            glabrous texture on both surfaces.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate, comprised of 5 fused sepals with lobes            free at apex, average of about 2 mm in length and 62 mm in            width at anthesis, color N144B on outer and inner surface            and tinged at the distil end with 181B with sun exposure,            surface glabrous.        -   Pedicels.—Round, average of 4.4 mm in length and 5.6 mm in            length, 145A in color, surface is glabrous.        -   Peduncles.—Round, an average of 1.1 cm in length and 12.3 in            width, 145A in color, surface is glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—10 stamens, stamens are 4-5 mm in length,            anthers are 163B in color and 4 to 5 mm in length, filaments            are 1 to 2 mm in length and 145D in color, pollen is            moderate in abundance and 155A in color.        -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, style is cone-shaped, an average of 6            mm in length (approximately equal to tip of corolla) and            137A in color, ovary N144B in color.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Type.—Berry.        -   Number.—1 to 5 per cluster.        -   Cluster tightness.—Medium.        -   Skin color.—Unripe; 144C to 144D changing to 145C, ripening;            157C to 157D with a blush of 186D on lighter fruit and 186A            and 186B on darker fruit.        -   Date of fruit ripening.—Medium-early for 50% ripe.        -   Skin surface.—Medium level of glaucous coating (bloom).        -   Shape.—Larger berries broadly elliptic, smaller berries            globose-elliptic.        -   Flesh color.—A blend of 156D and N155D.        -   Flesh texture.—Fleshy.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate, comprised of 5 fused sepals with lobes            free at apex, 1.5 cm in length and 6.2 mm in width, color            155A on outer and inner surface with outer surface tips            tinged with 182D with sun exposure, glaucous surface, free            lobes; average of 1 mm in length and 3 mm in width,            triangular in shape, diameter of aperture; average of 6 mm.        -   Scar size.—Average of 3 mm in diameter.        -   Flavor.—Balance sweet-tart taste with moderate aroma.        -   Firmness.—Moderately crisp.        -   Weight.—1.55 g mean (100 berries sampled).        -   Brix.—15.1 degrees.        -   Acidity.—9.8 g/liter citric acid equivalent and pH=3.6.        -   Productivity.—Moderate.        -   Storage life.—Up to 3 weeks in refrigeration (˜3° C.).        -   Seeds.—Average of 15 per berry, 165A in color, average of            1.8 mm in length and 0.65 mm in width.        -   Self incompatibility.—Less than 10% set fruit with hand            pollination.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plant named‘MNPink1’ as herein illustrated and described.